Ttotua and why I haven't posted in so long

Hey. So I have not posted in such a long time. Since last summer I don't think. Its a sad state of affairs. But there is a positive twist. It is because I am currently working on and directing the short film Ttotua. (or till the ocean takes us all)

I am hoping in the next month or two to have a trailer/website up and running for the film. 

In the mean time I hope you will bear with me. Look forward to posting regularly again soon.

All the best

Graeme

Character study! Walk cycles . . .

Heeey! So what's been happening this summer. Lots really. But tbh I'm so exhausted talking about it all that I shall get right onto topic instead. And so as I listen to 'Captain Beefheart' and wile away a couple of hours I end up one walk cycle heavier than before. This is just a quick basic walk test for the main character of my film pitch. Looking at shapes and deciding on styles in terms of how easy they are to animate. This character went surprisingly well. He has bouncy hair. And a hood. But as long as you pay attention to the ups and downs acting on those two objects I don't think he would pose any problems to an animator. In fact for some of the more intimate scenes. The 'Money shots', I could possibly add a little more into him. That is a test for another day however. Hope you like it so far. 

All the best!!!

Hey guys! So Figured I'd have a quick bash at this months 11 second club challenge. Would love to know what everyone thinks. 
Lots of firsts in this one. First time I have had a proper attempt at animating to a piece of dialogue. First time animating a full acting sequence. First time animating a face with lip synch. 
And as with all firsts, there's lots that can be improved on.

Its definitely nowhere near as finished as I would like. And there's an awful lot in there that's not particularly good at the moment. Maybe something I can work back into later. I think the main problem is there is just too much going on. Its not very clear. And in animation, clarity is everything. 

I haven't entered it unfortunately. For a couple of reasons. But hey ho. It was a big old learning curve and i look forward to trying another one. Hopefully with a bit more success.

All the best

Graeme

Sketch-Dump and hands

Heeey. So this week I have done a lot of training. The travelling kind that is. Getting from one place to another. Its been a busy old time because of it. Especially on the way back. Apparently thunder and lighting is good enough reason to cancel every train this side of London for a good two hours. But hey ho, what better time to sit and kill a few hours drawing people ambling about. Here's a few of those very sketches . . . (apart from the ones at the top, they're just studies from a newspaper).

And in the mean time here's some more hands. You might recognise the style. I have been reading a lot of Bridgeman lately. Absolute genius of life drawing. These are however my own hands and not artist copies. (For one thing they're not good enough)

Also if you haven't seen it already. See the new Pixar Brave trailer. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYg0VgPy6Uk

I don't think I have been that turned on by a movie trailer since the Lilo and Stitch series.

Featuring Aladdin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCUDS-Q67Mg

The little Mermaid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtNEL4WgS_c&feature=related

Beauty and the Beast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twZJu9vb1z8&feature=related

And the lion king

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVlaE99t8TM&feature=related

Lulworth cove, Hands and Disney!

Hi, so, i haven't posted in quite a while have I. Alas uni is over more or less for the summer. And i hate photographing my work. Much prefer the university scanners. I just cant get the colours right on my own. 

But hey ho, ill have to make do for a bit. Here's a quick watercolour I did whilst at Lulworth cove yesterday. Its not very good tbh. But I have not really had a go at observational painting before until I went to Annecy a couple of weeks ago. Since then the idea has captivated me. SO latest effort!! 

As for the Hands and Disney part of this post. Here we go. I have to admit since getting back from Annecy i haven't done as many, but it is still there. I think its not something I need to do every day any more. Just something I can practice every couple of days or so. These particular examples are hands done in a very caricature style. 

As for the Disney piccy. Its a piece of art done by a guy called Amano something or other. I really loved the line quality of it, very fine. Its also in its original form a watercolour. This is something i want to start playing with soon. The original is here. 

http://www.gamedepiction.com/media2/kh-sora-big.jpg

and here's mine

Anyhows. I'm currently working on an 11 second club challenge, that for once I think I might actually finish!! Ill post it up as soon as its done so you can see what you think. This summer for me is gonna be full of animation so keep on coming back and seeing if there's anything new. Ill try n post a new one every week.

All the best

Graeme

Annecy Festival!

Wow, so I just got back from Annecy animation festival last week. Already i want to go back. I am that eager I have decided to try and learn French. xD So, if you can speak French, please let me know, I need the help! Merci.

It was amazing. I think my favourite part (apart from all of it) was possibly the Disney talks. Especially the talk with Paul Briggs about story. 

(For those of you who don't know, Paul Briggs is a story supervisor at Disney at the moment working as a lead story guy for their next big feature.) 

Oh and possibly getting to see the newest Pixar short. Its called La luna. A very cute story about three generations of people that keep the moon shining brightly. I got a poster for it, woop!! Umm, also just relaxing by the lake was pretty nice. It was a stunning location to say the least and I think I could have quite happily have stayed there all day just sketching and relaxing amongst friends. 

Anyhow, here's a quickety update regarding some of those aforementioned sketches I did there. Some are okay, others leave a lot to be desired, but hey ho. 

AHHHH DRUNKEN DRAWINGS!!!

Who could these be??

A watercolour I did of lake Annecy. Was uber relaxing.

And just so you didn't think I had forgotten. More DISNEY AND HANDS!!

Anyhow, that's all from me for now. 

All the best

Graeme

Disney & Hands part 5

So this may be my last post for the next week or so. Hey ho, I am not gonna be complaining as I will be off to Annecy in France instead. Really excited about it. Massive massive animation festival . . . and also a chance to maybe chill out for a bit too. Particularly looking forward to having a midnight swim in the lake!

Anyhow, here's my Disney and hands progress. Been doing this for 12 days so far. It feels like a lot longer. But even now, looking back at the first couple of days I feel as though I have learnt a lot. My drawing of hands has become more informed, muscles exist where they didn't in my drawings before. Also more assured. Less as though i was fumbling around and not really knowing what I was doing. Hopefully this should really help with my animating. Just in the range of emotions and gestures that I can hopefully add to my bag of tricks. We will have to see. 

(Sergio Pablos)

(Glen Keane)

Something made me laugh lots and lots today . . . but I cant remember what. Ill get back to you on that one!! I Should go now anyhow, I can hear mike in the kitchen making a soup biscuit and I need to stop him.

All the best

Graeme 

Disney & Hands part 4

So been a long weekend this week. Literally. And sigh* was working every single one of them. It could have been worse I guess. My mood was lifted momentarily when a raggedy homeless guy came into the shop and declared at, (rather than too,) the customers that they where 'supposed to be in the music industry'. After which he spat on the floor and stomped out. All because dogs aren't allowed in the shopping centre. (What does being in the music industry have to do with dogs??)


That three days of being in the music industry did not stop me however, from doing my Disney drawings and my Hands!!

This weekend i have focussed a small amount more not on just animation frames but character designs and concept works as well. In particular youll notice a lot of children from Toy Story 3. I have always struggled with designing appealing young characters. In doing these however i have learnt a lot about where i was going wrong. Proportions etc. 

(Bruce Smith)

(Chris Sanders, Storyboard)

(Tom Gately, Character Design)

(Brush Pen, Really good challenge. Gave me a chance to evaluate my progress without having an eraser to lean on as a crutch)

(Daniel Arriaga, Character Design)

Disney & Hands Part 3

Day  . . . 6 I think. Tomorrow I think I may try something different. Maybe brush pen! That'll be a nightmare. No chance to repair. I have to live with the marks I make. I have to live life on the edge. I have to push the envelope of my comfort. I have to rock the boat of my preconceptions...

Here's last nights anyhow :)

(Glen Keane)

Once again being annoyingly complex in his drawing.

All the best 

Graeme

Disney & Hands part 2

HEEEY!

MORE HANDS AND DISNEY
YAAAAAAY!!!

(Milt Kahl)

(Glen Keane)

Was looking at this Glen Keane drawing and watching treasure planet at the same time. I noticed that not only can I not draw this character on model. Neither could many of the other animators. Oh you Glen Keane. Your too good!! 

All the best

Graeme